Hope good reason prevails upon ULFA: PM

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Tuesday said the government wants to restore peace in
India's eastern state of Assam and hoped that good reason
prevails upon the outlawed ULFA to end the decades-long
insurgency problem in the state.

On talks with United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA),
which received a major setback last year with four of its top
leaders arrested in Bangladesh, he said "Though we tried to
bring them (ULFA) to the negotiation table in 2006, they
backed out. I hope this time good reason prevails.
"If Assam becomes peaceful, nothing can stop it from
making rapid progress as the state has tremendous potential in
all spheres," a statement by Guwahati-based Nanda Talukdar
Foundation quoted the prime minister as saying.
Singh, who was presented with a copy of the
foundation's coffee table book highlighting the heritage of
Assam, said, "We are also in touch with our neighbours so that
insurgents from the northeast do not get shelter in their
territories."
Appreciating the 11 writers of "Assam" for pooling
their resources, wisdom and skill in publishing it, he said
the unique share-holder pattern formulated in bringing out the
book will encourage other writers.
Singh said his government was trying to restore the
pre-Partition connectivity and logistics that were available
to Assam and northeast through negotiations with Bangladesh.
According to the writers, "this is the first coffee
table book on Assam, portraying everything about the state in
a positive manner and aimed at correcting the 'distorted'
opinion about the state."
The Rs 2,500-book, promoted by Nanda Talukdar
Foundation, has contributions from 11 professionals from
diverse fields. PTI ZMN